Shigeru Hara

Strategies for asymptomatic microscopic hematuria : a prospective study of 1,034 patients

To establish strategies for treatment of asymptomatic microscopic hematuria we conducted a prospective study of 1,034 patients with this disease. The patients were examined by cystoscopy, urine cytology, abdominal ultrasound and excretory urography. On initial examination 30 highly significant lesions, including 24 cases of urological malignancies, 195 moderately significant lesions and 246 insignificant lesions were detected. In the remaining 563 patients no underlying lesion could be found. Of the 246 patients with insignificant lesions and 563 with unexplained asymptomatic microscopic hematuria followup was done in 421 at 6-month intervals for more than 1 year. A diagnosis became clear within 3 years in 22 patients, including 3 cases of bladder carcinoma and 1 of prostatic carcinoma.

Relapse of androgen-dependent tumour of mouse (Shionogi Carcinoma 115) after castration and oestrogen treatment

SummaryTo elucidate relapse of hormone-dependent tumour, mice bearing androgen-dependent carcinoma (SC 115) underwent castration or received oestrogen treatment. Since SC 115 consisted of two types of cells, androgensensitive round cells and-insensitive spindle-shaped cells, changes in the ratio of the cellular population were examined. After castration, spindle-shaped cells increased temporarily as the tumour regressed, then the round cells increased significantly along with an increase in size of the tumour. Oestrogen treatment did not influence the population. Androgen dependency and the growth rate of round cells were generally preserved in the next generation. Therefore, relapse may occur by an increase in the number of androgen-sensitive round cells.

Spontaneous rupture of the ureter of a patient with Cushing's syndrome.

A case of spontaneous rupture of the ureter with Cushings syndrome is presented. The fragility of the tissue in Cushings syndrome is thought to render the ureter more susceptible to rupture.